Drawer storage

ABSTRACT

A cold-storage appliance ( 2 ) includes an open-topped insulating container defining an external surface; an insulating lid ( 22 ) adapted to close the open top of the container ( 16 ); a cooling means ( 24 ) adapted to cool the interior of the container ( 16 ); and a structure supporting the container ( 16 ), the lid and the cooling means; wherein the container ( 16 ) is mounted to the structure ( 4 ) for movement relative to the structure ( 6 ) and the lid ( 22 ) to open the container ( 16 ) and afford access to its interior or to close the container ( 16 ). A major component to open or close the drawer ( 4 ) and a minor component ( 114 ) transverse to the major component to separate the drawer ( 4 ) from the lid ( 22 ) at opening.

[0001] This invention relates to storage and in preferred embodimentsrelates to the art of cold storage, including appliances such asrefrigerators and freezers for storing foodstuffs and other perishables.Other applications of the invention include storage of chemicals andmedical or biological specimens. The invention also finds use in mobileapplications, for example in the transport and storage of perishablegoods. More generally, the invention finds use in any form of storageinvolving the use of drawers, and especially where the drawers carryheavy loads and need to be sealed when closed.

[0002] The invention develops and adds to the various features of theInventor's co-pending International Patent Application No.PCT/GB00/03521 published as WO 01/20237, the content of which isincorporated herein by reference. The invention is also derived from UKPatent Application No. 0106164.7 published as GB 2367353, the content ofwhich is also incorporated herein by reference and from which, interalia, the present application claims priority. As in thosespecifications, the invention can be applied to storing any items withina cooled environment, such as in a refrigerated goods vehicle. The term‘appliance’ is therefore to be construed broadly, extending beyond fixeddomestic devices into industrial, scientific and mobile applications.However, this specification will particularly describe domestic orcommercial cold-storage appliances for storing foodstuffs.

[0003] Briefly to recap the introduction of WO 01/20237, the advantagesof storing foodstuffs and other perishable items in refrigerated andsegregated conditions have long been known: refrigeration retards thedegradation of such items and segregation helps to prevent theircross-contamination. Accordingly, modem cold-storage appliances such asrefrigerators and freezers are usually compartmentalised, albeit notoften effectively, so that a user can store different types of food indifferent compartments. All such appliances have the additional aim ofmaximising their energy efficiency.

[0004] The invention herein and the inventions in WO 01/20237 and GB2367353 were devised against a background of typical cold-storageappliances, most of which comprise one or more upright cabinets eachwith a vertically-sealed hinged door on its front. Substantially all ofthe interior of the cabinet defines a storage volume, most commonlypartitioned by shelves or drawers for supporting stored foodstuffs.Access to all of the shelves or drawers in the cabinet is gained byopening the door.

[0005] A cooler unit generates a convection loop within the cabinet, inwhich air cooled by the cooler unit sinks toward the bottom of thecabinet and as that air absorbs heat during its downward journey, itwarms and rises back up to the cooler unit where it is cooled again. Itis also possible to have forced-air circulation by means of a fan withinor communicating with the cabinet. The shelves or drawers are typicallymade of wire so that they offer little resistance to this circulation ofair.

[0006] Upright refrigerators and freezers are often combined and sold asa single-cabinet ‘fridge freezer’ unit with a refrigerator occupying anupper compartment and the freezer occupying a lower compartment, or viceversa. As different temperatures are required for the two compartments,they are partitioned by a solid divide and each compartment has its owndoor and cooler unit, conventionally in the form of an evaporator.

[0007] The domestic fridge freezer usually has only one compressor andthe refrigerator evaporator is in series with the freezer evaporator. Inthat case, temperature control and measurement is usually confined tothe refrigerator compartment. Where temperature control is required inboth compartments, the evaporators are in parallel and have respectivesolenoid valves and temperature switches providing on/off cooling masscontrol to each compartment. In either case, however, the temperaturewithin the respective compartments cannot be duplicated: one compartmentis for chilling, so it has less insulation than the other and itstemperature can be adjusted within a range above zero Celsius, and theother is for freezing, so it has more insulation than the other and itstemperature can be adjusted (if at all) within a range below zeroCelsius. Neither compartment can do the job of the other.

[0008] WO 01/20237 addresses a major problem with upright refrigeratorsand freezers, namely the upright door which, when opened, allows coldair to flow freely out of the cabinet to be replaced by warm ambient airflowing in at the top. That rush of ambient air into the cabinet causesits internal temperature to rise, hence consuming more energy inredressing that rise by running the cooler unit. The incoming ambientair introduces the possibility of airborne contamination, and moisturein that air also gives rise to condensation and ice within the cabinet.The more often and frequently the cabinet is opened, as may happenespecially in commercial cold storage appliances, the worse theseproblems get.

[0009] In upright-door arrangements, the limitations of the verticalseal mean that loss of cold air and induction of warm air can even occurwhen the door is closed. Being denser than warmer air, the coldest aircollects at the bottom of the cabinet and applies pressure to thesealing interface so that unless the seal forms a perfect seal betweenthe door and the cabinet, that air will escape.

[0010] The present invention and WO 01/20237 also address the problemsinherent in the well-known chest freezer, whose open-topped cabinet istypically closed by a horizontally-hinged upwardly-opening lid. Such achest freezer is inconvenient and wasteful of space because it precludesuse of the space immediately above the freezer, which space must bepreserved to allow its lid to be opened. Even if a sliding lid is usedinstead of an upwardly-opening lid, items cannot be left conveniently ontop of the lid. It is also well known that large chest freezers can makeaccess to their contents extremely difficult, it being necessary tostoop down and shift numerous heavy and painfully cold items to get toitems at the bottom of the freezer compartment.

[0011] Finally, the present invention and WO 01/20237 address theproblem of segregating different types of foodstuff or other perishableitems to avoid cross-contamination. In typical cold-storage appliances,segregation of food is compromised by the convection and/or forced-airprinciples on which those appliances rely. The substantially openbaskets or shelves designed to promote convective circulation of airbetween the compartments also promote the circulation of moisture,enzymes and harmful bacteria. In addition, any liquid that may spill orleak, such as juices running from uncooked meats, will not be containedby the open baskets or shelves.

[0012] Conventional cold-storage appliances exemplified by uprightrefrigerators and chest freezers are not the only prior art disclosuresof interest. For example, it has been known for many years to divide arefrigerator into compartments, each with its own dedicated door or lid.Examples of this idea are disclosed in UK Patent Nos. GB 602,590, GB581,121 and GB 579,071, all to Earle, that describe cabinet-likerefrigerators.

[0013] In those Earle documents, the front of the cabinet is providedwith a plurality of rectangular openings for receiving drawers. Eachdrawer has a front panel larger than its respective opening so that avertical seal is formed around the overlap when the drawer is in aclosed position. The drawers and their contents are cooled by a coolerunit that circulates cooled air by convection within the cabinet, incommon with the types of refrigerator already described. To promotecirculation of this air amongst all of the drawers, the drawers areopen-topped and have apertures in their bottoms. Also, the drawers aredisposed in a stepped arrangement, those at the top of the refrigeratorextending back less far into the cabinet than the lower drawers so thatthe rear of each drawer is exposed to the downward flow of cooled airfrom the cooler unit.

[0014] Although only one drawer need be opened at a time, the aperturesin the bottom allow cold air to flow freely from the open drawer, whichis replaced by warm moist ambient air to the detriment of energyefficiency and with the increased possibility of cross-contamination.Indeed, when a drawer is opened, cold air within the cabinet above thelevel of that drawer will flood out, drawing ambient air into thecabinet. Furthermore, the drawers encourage ambient air to flow into theinterior of the refrigerator because, upon opening, they act as pistonsdrawing the ambient air into the interior of the refrigerator cabinet.Once in the cabinet, the warm air can circulate as freely as the coldair that is supposed to be there.

[0015] Even when closed, the accumulation of cold air towards the bottomof the cabinet will exert increased pressure on the vertical seals ofthe lowest drawers, increasing the likelihood of leakage if the seal isfaulty.

[0016] A further example of the above type of refrigerator is disclosedin UK Patent No. GB 602,329, also to Earle. The refrigerator disclosedtherein suffers many of the above problems but is of greater interest inthat a single drawer consisting of insulated sides and base is providedwithin the cooled interior of the cabinet. In contrast to the variantsoutlined above, the sides and base are solid and not perforated so thatair cannot flow through them. When the drawer is closed, a horizontalmember within the cabinet combines with the drawer to define acompartment, the horizontal member thus being a lid for the drawer. Thiscompartment is provided with its own cooling coils situated just belowthe horizontal member.

[0017] Very little detail is given about the seal that is formed betweenthe drawer and the horizontal member, other than that the horizontalmember has a downwardly projecting rear end with a biased edge thatmakes a close fit with the rear wall of the drawer. Nothing else is saidabout the junction between the drawer and the horizontal member, apartfrom the general statement that the drawer is adapted when in its closedposition to fit ‘fairly snugly’ against the horizontal member. It canonly be inferred that the drawer and the horizontal member merely abutagainst each other. Whilst this will impede the passage of air into andout of the drawer, it will not form an impervious seal. As this is not avapour seal, icing and cross-contamination is likely to occur even whenthe drawer is closed.

[0018] The drawer arrangement described creates a compartment in which adifferent temperature can be set when compared to the essentially commontemperature of the rest of the refrigerator. It is particularlyenvisaged that the drawer can act as a freezer compartment. TheApplicant has appreciated a disadvantage in this arrangement, namelythat as the freezer drawer resides within the cooled interior whenclosed, the outer surfaces of the drawer within the cabinet will becooled to the temperature of the refrigerator. Accordingly, when thedrawer is opened, those cooled outer surfaces will be exposed to ambientair containing moisture that will condense on the cooled surfacesleading to an undesirable accumulation of moisture. Condensationinvolves transfer of latent heat from water vapour to the drawer, thusincreasing the burden of cooling the drawer again when the drawer isreturned to the closed position within the cabinet.

[0019] Additionally, condensed moisture will be transferred to theinterior of the refrigerator when the drawer is closed. As discussedabove, the presence of water promotes microbial activity. A furtherdisadvantage of introducing water into the interior of the refrigeratoris that it may freeze: this can be a particular problem where the drawerof the enclosed compartment meets the insulated top, as any iceformation will form a seal that locks the drawer in a permanently closedposition. In fact, the of ice formation is due to moisture migrationacross the interface between the drawer and the top. This disadvantagewas appreciated by Earle, as a cam mechanism is mentioned in GB 602,329to break any ice formed at the seals or on the runners or other supportsurfaces of the drawers. It is also possible for a build-up of ice toaffect the sealing ability of the seal, by preventing mating sealingsurfaces from mating correctly. Of course, the accumulation of ice onmoving parts of the drawer mechanism is also undesirable as it willimpede movement of the drawer.

[0020] A further interesting prior art document, cited as technologicalbackground against WO 01/20237, is U.S. Pat. No. 1,337,696 to Ewen. Ewenspeaks of segregation between refrigerated drawers contained in asurrounding cabinet and employs refrigerating units placed ‘immediatelyand closely above each drawer . . . so that said drawer may in effect besaid to be closed against said refrigerating unit’. However, there hasto be a gap left between the drawer and the refrigerating unit if thedrawer is going to open. As in Earle, that gap will promote icing asmoist air within the cabinet migrates into the drawer and the watervapour condenses and freezes. The smaller the gap, the sooner theaccumulating ice will prevent drawer movement. If a larger gap is triedinstead, there will be a greater spillage of air and hence therefrigerator will be less energy-efficient and more susceptible tocross-contamination.

[0021] That aside, the spillage of cold air in Ewen lowers thetemperature within the cabinet around the drawers, and so increases thelikelihood of condensation on the drawers when opened. It will be notedthat cold air spilled in this way can fall freely behind the drawerswithin the cabinet and so expose the exterior of the drawers to airsubstantially below ambient temperature. Certain design details of Ewenworsen this effect. For example, the bottom wall of the Ewen unit is anefficient insulator which will significantly reduce the surfacetemperature of the drawers. Also, the internal divisions between thedrawers do not allow for ambient heat transfer to the drawers but onlyfor heat transfer between the drawers, thus promoting drawer-to-drawertemperature equalisation over time. Left for long periods, or evenovernight, large parts of the external surface of each drawer will fallto temperatures significantly below ambient dew point. Condensation orice will therefore form on those surfaces as soon as the drawers areopened; similarly, if the drawers are removed and left outside theappliance, they will start to ‘sweat’ with condensation.

[0022] Like Earle, opening and closing a drawer within a sealed cabinetin Ewen acts like a piston, alternately applying both negative andpositive pressures to adjacent areas. This promotes air transfer throughthe drawer opening at the front of the cabinet, which can displace coldtreated air in a drawer, and within the cabinet itself. An over-sizedcabinet would reduce the piston effect but would also be wasteful ofspace. Conversely, a more space-efficient close-fitting cabinet maydecrease the displacement of cold treated air, and so reduce the burdenof cooling the warmer air that takes its place, but it will increaseresistance to opening and closing the drawer.

[0023] Cold air spillage aside, the gap inevitably left between a drawerand its associated lid in prior art arrangements is large enough toallow the passage of enzymes, spores and other airborne contaminants.Also, Ewen discloses a common interconnecting drain and this too wouldallow free transfer of contaminants between each drawer, particularlyunder the aforementioned piston action.

[0024] Whilst Ewen speaks of different temperatures in differentdrawers, the plurality of cooling lids are connected in series and haveno means for individual temperature control in each drawer. Thedifferent temperatures are designed-in by providing some drawers withmore cooling elements than others, but there is no measurement orcontrol of those temperatures in use. Also, like the compartments ofmore conventional prior art, each drawer in Ewen has a fixed function,namely freezer or refrigerator.

[0025] Even if removed from the appliance, Ewen's drawers will stayattached to their drawer fronts and runners. This does not lend thedrawers to temporary storage or transport. Moreover, like Earle, thedrawers in Ewen cannot be opened fully: they can only be opened lessthan half-way while being supported by the structure of the appliance.This is to the detriment of access to, and visibility and illuminationof, the contents.

[0026] It is against this background that the present invention has beendevised.

[0027] From one aspect, the invention resides in a cold-storageappliance including: an open-topped insulating container defining anexternal surface; an insulating lid adapted to close the open top of thecontainer; a cooling means adapted to cool the interior of thecontainer; and a structure supporting the container, the lid and thecooling means; wherein the container is mounted to the structure formovement relative to the structure and the lid to open the container andafford access to its interior or to close the container, and wherein thelid is mounted to the structure for movement relative to the structureand the container to free the container from the lid upon opening or tobring the container and the lid together upon closing.

[0028] Thus, in this aspect of the invention, the lid moves to free thecontainer for movement. In a simple arrangement that will be described,the lid can be tilted relative to the structure and the container. Forexample, the lid can be hinged to the structure, the hinge preferablydefining a pivot axis horizontally spaced from the container so that thelid is lifted fully away from the container. More generally, it ispreferred that the lid is movable transverse to the direction ofmovement of the container.

[0029] Beneficially, lid transport means are responsive to movement ofthe container or of a support means movable to support the containerduring said movement. The lid transport means can move the lid beforethe container starts moving upon opening and after the container hasstopped moving upon closing. In that case, where a support means ismovable to support the container during said movement, the lid transportmeans is preferably between the support means and the lid and respondsto movement of the support means to move the lid.

[0030] The support means can be movable independently of the container,in which case the lid transport means can be responsive to relativemovement between the support means and the container and moreparticularly to continued movement of the support means after movementof the container has ceased.

[0031] In an alternative arrangement, the lid transport means moves thelid during initial movement of the container upon opening and duringfinal movement of the container upon closing.

[0032] The invention also resides in a cold-storage appliance including:an open-topped insulating container defining an external surface; aninsulating lid adapted to close the open top of the container; a coolingmeans adapted to cool the interior of the container; and a structuresupporting the container, the lid and the cooling means; wherein thecontainer is mounted to the structure for movement relative to thestructure and the lid to open the container and afford access to itsinterior or to close the container, and wherein said movement of thecontainer includes: a major component to open the container and affordaccess to its interior or to close the container; and a minor component,transverse to the major component, to free the container from the lid atthe beginning of said major component upon opening or to bring thecontainer and the lid together at the end of said major component uponclosing.

[0033] In this aspect of the invention, the two-component movement ofthe container serves to clear the container from the lid. To avoid awiping action on seals between the container and the lid, it ispreferred that the minor component takes place before the majorcomponent upon opening and after the major component upon closing.However, it is also possible for the minor component to take placeduring initial movement in the direction of the major component uponopening and during final movement in the direction of the majorcomponent upon closing.

[0034] In this aspect, it is preferred that a support means is movableto support the container during the major component and that containertransport means is disposed between the support means and the containerto responds to movement of the support means to effect the minorcomponent. Where the support means is movable independently of thecontainer, the container transport means can be responsive to relativemovement between the support means and the container. For instance, thecontainer transport means is preferably responsive to continued movementof the support means after the major component of movement of thecontainer has been completed.

[0035] The container transport means suitably includes a first part infixed relation to the support means and a second part in fixed relationto the container, wherein relative movement between the partsaccommodates said continued movement of the support means. In this case,relative movement between the parts causes the minor component ofmovement of the container. For example, one part can include a ramp andthe other part can include a ramp follower, such as a wheel. The rampmay further be associated with stops or buffers to limit relativemovement of the ramp follower.

[0036] Advantageously, the support means may also be fixed to astabilising mechanism to resist lateral sway of the container during themajor component of movement. That stabilising mechanism preferablyincludes pinions movable with the support means, the pinions beingengaged with respective laterally-spaced racks extending in thedirection of the major component.

[0037] In order that the present invention can be more readilyunderstood, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0038]FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator/freezer appliance asdisclosed in the Applicant's co-pending International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/GB00/03521 (WO 01/20237), showing a vertical array of drawerseach including a bin;

[0039]FIG. 2 is a side view of the appliance of FIG. 1, with a lowerportion of a side panel removed so that the sides of the drawers can beseen;

[0040]FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III of FIG. 2 but with thedrawers closed;

[0041]FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

[0042]FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic sectional side view of two drawersof an appliance of the invention in which a lid is movable with respectto the structure to separate the lid from a bin, thereby allowing thebin to be moved subsequently in a single opening direction;

[0043] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are partial sectional side views of anappliance in accordance with the invention, FIG. 6(a) showing a drawerclosed with its bin sealed to a lid, and FIG. 6(b) showing (in solidlines) the drawer partially open with the bin dropped vertically awayfrom the lid, and then (in dashed lines) fully open with the bin slidhorizontally forward to afford access to its interior;

[0044]FIG. 7 is a front part-sectional detail view of a bin transportmechanism being part of the appliance of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b);

[0045]FIG. 8 is a partial side view of a bin being part of the applianceof FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 7;

[0046]FIG. 9 is detail side view of a wheel housing shown in FIGS. 6(a),6(b) and 7;

[0047] FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are schematic detail side views of thewheel housing of FIG. 9 in operation;

[0048] FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are side views of a drawer in accordancewith the invention, which is akin to that shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)but has the added refinement of a lever that assists opening and closingof the drawer;

[0049]FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view within a drawer recess of anappliance adapted to receive a drawer of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) or FIGS.11(a) and 11(b);

[0050] FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) are a plan view and a sectional side viewrespectively of a lid showing its sealing, cooling and drainagefacilities in detail;

[0051]FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of the lids of FIGS.13(a) and 13(b), showing their separate drainage arrangements;

[0052] FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) are a bottom plan view and a sectional sideview respectively of a lid adapted for use in a fan coil cooling system;

[0053] FIGS. 16(a), 16(b) and 16(c) are front and side elevation viewsand an enlarged partial cross-sectional detail view of a bench-typecold-storage appliance having an alternative layout to that shown inFIGS. 1 to 4;

[0054] FIGS. 17(a), 17(b) and 17(c) are part-sectional side, front andenlarged front views respectively of a further bin transport mechanism,FIG. 17(a) being on line Y-Y of FIG. 17(b) and FIGS. 17(b) and 17(c)being on line X-X of FIG. 17(a);

[0055] FIGS. 18(a), 18(b) and 18(c) are part-sectional detail views of awheel bracket attached to a transport plate, FIG. 18(a) being a sectionon line X-X of FIG. 18(b), FIG. 18(b) being a section on line Y-Y ofFIG. 18(c), and FIG. 18(c) being a plan view;

[0056]FIG. 19 is a side view of a transport plate fitted with wheelbrackets as shown in FIGS. 18(a), 18(b) and 18(c);

[0057]FIG. 20 is a side view of a bin support frame for use with thetransport plate of FIG. 19;

[0058]FIG. 21 is a schematic detail side view of a wheel housingcomponent being attached to the bin support frame of FIG. 20;

[0059] FIGS. 22(a), 22(b), 22(c) and 22(d) are partial sectional sideviews showing the operation of the bin transport mechanism of FIGS.17(a), 17(b) and 17(c), FIG. 22(a) showing the bin sealed and the weightof the bin being carried on wheels, FIG. 22(b) showing the bin releasedfrom its seals but with the weight of the bin still being carried onwheels, FIG. 22(c) showing engagement of a bin support frame andtransport plate, and FIG. 22(d) showing load transfer to the transportplate such that the weight of the bin is carried on runners as the binundergoes a horizontal opening movement;

[0060] FIGS. 23(a) and 23(b) are part-sectional side and front viewsrespectively of another bin transport mechanism, employing slidingblocks, FIG. 23(a) being on line Y-Y of FIG. 23(b) and FIG. 23(b) beingon line X-X of FIG. 23(a);

[0061] FIGS. 24(a), 24(b) and 24(c) are partial sectional side viewsshowing the operation of the bin transport mechanism of FIGS. 23(a) and23(b), FIG. 24(a) showing the bin sealed, FIG. 24(b) showing the binreleased from its seals and FIG. 24(c) showing engagement of a binsupport frame and transport plate as the bin undergoes a horizontalopening movement;

[0062]FIG. 25 is a part-sectional side view of a further bin transportmechanism taken on line Y-Y of FIG. 26;

[0063]FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the bin transport mechanism of FIG.25 taken on line X-X of that Figure and line X-X of FIG. 30(a);

[0064]FIG. 27 is a side view of a wheel ramp used in the bin transportmechanism of FIGS. 25 and 26;

[0065]FIG. 28 is a front view of a wheel assembly for use in the bintransport mechanism of FIGS. 25 to 27;

[0066]FIG. 29 is a sectional side view of the wheel assembly of FIG. 28,taken on line A-A of that Figure;

[0067] FIGS. 30(a) to 30(f) are a sequence of partial sectional sideviews showing the operation of the bin transport mechanism of FIGS. 25to 29;

[0068]FIG. 31 is a sectional side view of a damper for use in the bintransport mechanism of FIGS. 25 to 30;

[0069] FIGS. 32(a) to 32(f) are a sequence of sectional side views of analternative damper for use in the bin transport mechanism of FIGS. 25 to30;

[0070] FIGS. 33(a) to 33(e) are a sequence of sectional side viewsshowing the operation of a further alternative bin transport mechanism;

[0071]FIGS. 34, 35 and 36 are side and front views respectively of arestraining mechanism, the front view of FIG. 36 being taken on line Xof FIG. 35; and

[0072] FIGS. 37(a) to 37(f) are a sequence of sectional side viewsshowing the operation of a bin transport mechanism including restrainingmechanisms shown in FIGS. 34, 35 and 36.

[0073] Whilst the disclosure of the Applicant's co-pending InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/GB00/03521 (WO 01/20237) is incorporatedherein by reference, FIGS. 1 to 4 of WO 01/20237 are reproduced in thedrawings appended to this specification and will now be described tohelp put the present invention into context.

[0074] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a refrigerator/freezer appliance 2 according toWO 01/20237. The appliance 2 is of upright cuboidal configuration, andcomprises five rectangular-fronted drawers 4 arranged one above anotherand housed in a cabinet 6 comprising top 8, bottom 10, side 12 and rear14 panels. Any of these panels can be omitted if it is desired to buildthe appliance 2 into a gap between other supporting structures; inparticular, the side panels 12 can be omitted if neighbouring cupboardscan be relied upon for support or otherwise to perform the function ofthe side panels 12. The panels 8, 10, 12, 14 may or may not bestructural but if they are not, a frame (not shown) provides support forthe various parts of the appliance. If a frame is provided, it isstructurally unnecessary to have panels.

[0075] The drawers 4 can be slid horizontally into and out of thecabinet 6 by means of tracks or runners on the sides of the drawers 4that will be described in more detail below. If there is no back panel14, it is theoretically possible for a drawer 4 to be removed from thecabinet 6 in more than one direction, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0076] Each drawer 4 comprises an insulated open-topped bucket-likecontainer 16, at least one container 16 (in this case, that of thecentral drawer 4) being of a different depth to the other containers 16to define a different internal volume. These containers 16 will bereferred to in this specific description as storage bins or more simplyas bins 16. The bottom bin 16 leaves only a narrow gap to the bottompanel 10 of the cabinet 6, whereas the top bin 16 leaves a substantialspace at the top of the appliance 2 under the top panel 8, allowing roomfor a compartment 18 that accommodates a refrigerator engine 20, forexample including condenser and compressor means as is well known.

[0077] The relatively deep bin 16 of central drawer 4 is intended tohold bottles and other relatively tall items stored upright, whereas theother, relatively shallow bins 16 are for correspondingly shalloweritems. Compared to the shelves and other compartments defining the mainstorage volume of a conventional upright cold-storage appliance, all ofthe bins 16 have a favourable aspect ratio in terms of the substantialwidth of the access opening compared to the depth of the compartmentthereby accessed. It is therefore very easy to reach every part of theinterior of a bin 16 when a drawer 4 is opened,

[0078] The interior of the cabinet 6 is divided by five insulated lids22, one for each drawer 4, that are generally planar and horizontallydisposed. When a drawer 4 is closed, the open top of its associated bin16 is closed by an appropriate one of the lids 22 in a manner to bedescribed. The lids 22 include cooling means 24 being evaporatorelements of known type disposed in the lower face 26 of each lid 22 tocool the contents of a bin 16 closed by that lid 22.

[0079] Each bin 16 has a generally flat front face 28 that is exposedwhen the drawer 4 is closed. The front face 28 could be provided with adecorative panel as is well known. When the drawer 4 is closed, thefront face 28 of the bin 16 is bordered at the top by a control anddisplay panel 30 dedicated to that bin 16, the panel 30 being co-planarwith the front face 28. The panel 30 is supported by the front edge 32of the appropriate lid 22, the panel 30 being recessed into the frontedge 32 of the lid 22.

[0080] The control and display panel 30 contains a number of displays,switches and audible alarms, thus providing a user interface for eachbin 16. For example, the interface will most commonly be used forselecting the temperature to which the bin 16 is to be cooled, but alsocontains temperature displays, on/off and fast-freeze switches, a lightindicating when the drawer 4 is open and an audible alarm to indicatewhen the drawer 4 has been open longer than a predetermined time or whenthe temperature inside the bin 16 has reached an upper or lowerthreshold.

[0081] A rounded handle 34 extends across substantially the entire widthof the top portion of the front face 28 to enable the drawer 4 to bepulled out when access to the interior of the bin 16 is required.

[0082] The bottom of the front face 28 of each bin 16 is bordered by aslot 36 that, as will be described, admits ambient air into the cabinet6. To do so, each slot 36 communicates with an air gap 38 extendingbeneath the entire bottom face 40 of the associated bin 16 to meet avoid 42 maintained behind each bin 16, the void 42 being defined by theinner surfaces of the back 14 and side 12 panels of the cabinet 6 andthe backs 44 of the bins 16. As can be seen particularly from FIG. 4,the void 42 extends behind each bin 16 from the base panel 10 of thecabinet 6 to communicate with the refrigerator engine compartment 18 atthe top of the cabinet 6.

[0083] The air gaps 38 beneath the bins 16 and the void 42 behind thebins 16 also communicate with air gaps 38 to the sides 48 of the bins16. Optionally, vents 46 are provided in the side panels 12 of thecabinet 6 adjacent to the bins 16 through which ambient air can also beadmitted. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, air gaps 38 extendaround all bar the top side of each bin 16, so that ambient air enteringthe cabinet 6 through the slots 36 can circulate freely around the sides48, bottom 40 and rear 44 of each bin 16. It will also be noted thatambient air can circulate freely over the top surface 50 of each lid 22.To allow this airflow over the uppermost lid 22, which does not have abin 16 above, a slot 36 is provided under the front face 52 of therefrigerator engine compartment 18.

[0084] It will be noted that the piston action created by opening adrawer 4 that sucks ambient air into the interior of the appliance 2does not pose a problem in this invention. In fact, this action isadvantageous as it promotes circulation of ambient air within thecabinet 6.

[0085]FIG. 4 shows that the refrigerator engine compartment 18 includesan impeller 54 exhausting through apertures 56 provided in the frontface 52 of the refrigerator engine compartment 18. As best seen in FIG.1, these apertures 56 extend horizontally across the width of the frontface 52. The impeller 54 communicates with the void 42 behind the bins16 to draw air from the void 42, thus continuously promoting theinduction of ambient air through the slots 36 and the optional sidevents 46. Upon entering the refrigerator engine compartment 18, this airis drawn through the heat-exchange matrix 58 of the condenser.

[0086] Accordingly, ambient air entering the cabinet 6 through the frontslots 36 and, if provided, the side vents 46, leaves the cabinet 6through the apertures 56 provided in the front face 52 of therefrigerator engine compartment 18, and so ambient air is circulatedthrough the cabinet 6. More specifically, ambient air enters theappliance 2 where it immediately comes into contact with the outersurfaces 40, 44, 48 of the bins 16 and warms them to ambient temperature(or substantially so, as a surface resistance effect means that asub-ambient boundary layer will remain due to the temperature gradientacross the thickness of the bin wall) before being drawn towards thevoid 42 and then upwards through the void 42 by the circulation of theair. The arrows of FIG. 4 demonstrate this circulation of air throughthe appliance 2. Accordingly, the interior of the cabinet 6 is keptclose to ambient temperature, and only the interior of each bin 16 iscooled.

[0087] By exposing the external surfaces 28, 40, 44, 48 of the bin 16 towarmer air than it contains, there is no problem with condensation onthe external surfaces 28, 40, 44, 48, and hence no problem with latentheat transfer to the bin 16 or the icing and cross-contaminationdifficulties of condensed water entering the cabinet 6.

[0088] In any event, cross-contamination would be unlikely to occurbecause each bin 16 is tightly sealed when its drawer 4 is closed. So,even if microbes enter the cabinet 6, they cannot readily gain access toother bins 16. It is also unlikely that two bins 16 would be opentogether at any given time. It would be possible to include means forenforcing this, for example using a mechanism akin to that used infiling cabinets for anti-tilt purposes, by preventing more than onedrawer 4 being opened at a time. Such a mechanism will be describedlater.

[0089] When a bin 16 is open, its open top does not suffer much spillageof cold air, and when a bin 16 is closed, the horizontal seals 60 apt tobe used in the invention are inherently better at sealing-in cold airthan the vertical seals commonly used in upright refrigerators andfreezers. Whilst horizontal seals are known in chest freezers, thisinvention does not suffer the inconvenience and space problems of chestfreezers, instead being akin in those respects to the much more popularupright appliances. The seals 60 can have magnetic qualities, forexample being operable by permanent magnets or electromagnets, or mayemploy hydraulics or pneumatics to expand or contract them.

[0090] As there has to be a large temperature gradient between thecooled inner surfaces 62 of each bin 16 and its outer surfaces 28, 40,44, 48, the bins 16 are constructed from an efficient insulatingmaterial so that the gradient is easily maintained with the outersurfaces 28, 40, 44, 48 remaining close to the ambient temperature.Materials such as phenolic foam or polyurethane foam (optionally skinnedwith GRP or a polycarbonate in a composite structure) are particularlypreferred for the construction of the bins 16.

[0091] If segregation of the contents of a particular bin 16 isrequired, that bin 16 may be fitted with removable inserts 64. Theinserts 64 are of varying shape and dimensions and may be used to definemany types of compartments. For instance, an insert 64 may be a thinpartition with a length corresponding to the length or width of the bin16 in which it is received. An insert 64 may be a box, with or without alid, or an insert 64 may include clips for holding bottles in place ortrays for holding eggs or the like. An insert 64 could also be a wirebasket or shelf.

[0092] As can be seen in FIG. 2, one or more of the bins 16 can beremoved from the appliance 2 and fitted with an insulated transportcover 66. The bin 16 may then be taken away from the appliance 2, itsinsulated construction ensuring that it keeps its contents cool for alimited period of time. For instance, the bin 16 may be used as acool-box, possibly in conjunction with ice-packs to keep the interiorcool for as long as possible. Alternatively, the bin 16 with transportcover 66 may be kept close to the appliance 2 to provide added temporarycooled storage capacity, further bins 16 being fitted to the appliance 2in that event. Further details of transport cover arrangements will begiven later.

[0093] It is also possible for a transport cover 66 to include arefrigerator engine powered internally by batteries or a gas supply orexternally by mains electricity or a vehicle electricity supply.

[0094] Although not shown in the general views of FIGS. 1 to 4, theApplicant's co-pending International Patent Application No.PCT/GB00/03521 (WO 01/20237) discloses ways in which a bin 16 can bemoved with a major horizontal component of movement to gain access tothe interior of the bin 16 and, during that access movement, also with aminor vertical component of movement to clear the lid 22. In subsequentdevelopment, the Inventor has devised other ways of clearing the lid 22and gaining access to the bin 16. The Inventor has also devised othertechnical changes and improvements to WO 01/20237. That new matter willnow be described with reference to the remaining Figures, in which theaforesaid reference numerals are used for like parts where possible.

[0095] In FIG. 5, for example, the lid 22 is movable with respect to thestructure to separate the lid 22 from the bin 16, thereby allowing thebin 16 to be moved subsequently in a single opening direction parallelto the general plane of the closed lid 22, i.e. having only a horizontalcomponent of movement in the embodiment shown. In the very simpleexample shown in FIG. 5, the lid 22 is attached to the structure behindthe rear edge of the lid 22 by horizontal hinges 68 that enable the lid22 to be pivoted upwardly at its front edge to an extent limited by thebin 16 above. This upward movement of the lid 22 lifts compressiblemagnetic seals 60 off the top edge 70 of the bin 16 and is sufficient tofree the bin 16 to be slid horizontally on simple runners, with no needfor the cranks, rollers, ramps and so on that are variously described inWO 01/20237 to effect vertical movement of the bin 16 upon opening andclosing. The raised lid 22 is held up by a counterbalance weight 72 or aspring compensation device that biases the lid 22 into the raisedposition ready for the return of the bin 16 and optionally also into thelowered position atop the bin 16 when the bin 16 has been returned andthe lid 22 has been lowered back onto the top edge 70 of the bin 16.

[0096] It will be appreciated that the position of the hinges 68 behindthe rear edge of the bin 16 ensures that the rearmost seals 60 arelifted clear of the bin 16 or that their pressure upon the top edge 70of the bin 16 is at least reduced to the extent necessary to free thebin 16 for horizontal movement.

[0097] It is emphasised that the simple arrangement of FIG. 5 is shownmerely to illustrate the concept of a moving lid 22 and that other waysof raising a lid 22 can clearly be devised. For example, an arrangementof solenoids, actuators, cams or cranks can be used to raise the entirelid 22 into a raised position that is generally parallel to its loweredposition. It is also possible to retract the seals 60 upwardly into thelid 22 or downwardly into the bin 16 so as to free the bin 16 formovement.

[0098] Movement of the lid 22 can also be linked to the movement of theassociated bin 16 or of a movable support for that bin 16, so thatinitial opening movement of the bin 16 or its support causes the lid 22to move apart from the bin 16 and, vice-versa, at or toward the end of aclosing movement of the bin 16 or its support. The skilled reader willappreciate that the various

[0099] In another way of clearing the lid 22 and gaining access to thebin 16, the Inventor has realised the potential benefit of separatinghorizontal and vertical movement of the bin 16. Put more specifically,the Inventor sees benefit in ensuring that when the bin 16 and the lid22 come into contact with each other, that contact does not involve asliding or wiping motion which otherwise could cause the seals 60 towear and deteriorate over long periods of frequent use. Such a slidingor wiping motion across the seals 60 should also be avoided when the bin16 and the lid 22 are pulled apart. The movable-lid variant of FIG. 5has this benefit, as does the fixed-lid variant of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)which will now be described.

[0100] In FIG. 6(a), a drawer 4 in accordance with the invention isclosed with its bin 16 sealed to the associated lid 22 by being raisedagainst the lid 22 to compress a peripheral horizontal seal 60. FIG.6(b) shows the same drawer 4 in two further positions. In solid lines,to the left in FIG. 6(b), the drawer 4 is partially open in that the bin16 has dropped vertically away from the lid 22 to clear the seal 60, butthe bin 16 has not moved horizontally. In dashed lines, to the right inFIG. 6(b), the drawer 4 is fully open: the bin 16 has been movedhorizontally on telescopic runners 74 to afford access to its interior.

[0101] The telescopic runners 74 are of two- or three-piececonstruction, as FIG. 7 also shows. An outer rail 76 is attached to theadjacent side panel 78 of the cabinet and so remains stationary in use,whilst one or more inner rails 80 travel forward and back as the drawer4 is opened and closed. As the rails 76, 80 reside within the interiorof the cabinet that remains at or near to the ambient temperature, thereis no problem of ice formation that could jam the sliding movement ofthe rails 76, 80.

[0102] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) show a bin transport mechanism associatedwith the telescopic runners. That mechanism is also shown in FIG. 7 in afront part-sectional detail view. Specifically, the bin transportmechanism on each side of the bin 16 comprises a transport plate 82fixed to the respective telescopic runner. As can be appreciated in FIG.7, the transport plate 82 lies generally vertically beside the bin 16and its vertical upper portion 84 is folded away from the bin 16 todefine a recess between itself and the bin 16. That recess accommodatesa pair of vertically-oriented movement transfer wheels 86 that arerotatably attached by horizontal spindles 88 to the upper portion 84.FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) show that the pair of movement transfer wheels 86are disposed one forward, one rearward on each transport plate 82 toeach side of the bin 16.

[0103] Each movement transfer wheel 86 is received by and constrained tomove m a respective wheel housing 90. Each wheel housing 90 comprises awheel channel 92 being an inverted U-section that opens downwardly toreceive an upper portion of each movement transfer wheel 86 and toconstrain that wheel 86 against sideways movement. The base of theU-section bears against and supports a horizontal shoulder surface underan overhanging flange 94 that is integral with the wall of the bin 16.As can be seen in FIG. 8, the wheel channels are under respectiveopposed ends of the flange 94 and are linked by a length of flat bar 96that also lies under the flange 94. The central portion of the flange 94between the wheel housings 90 overhangs that bar 96 to define aconvenient lifting handle for use when the bin 16 is removed from theappliance 2.

[0104] Each movement transfer wheel 86 can move forwardly and rearwardlywithin its associated wheel housing 90 to a limited extent with respectto the bin 16. Accordingly, each wheel housing 90 has formationsassociated with the wheel channel that constrain and control themovement of the respective movement transfer wheel with respect to thebin 16. Those formations are best shown in the detail view of FIG. 9 ofthe drawings.

[0105] Firstly, forward and rearward movement of the movement transferwheel with respect to the bin 16 is limited by forward and rearwardbuffers 98, 100 respectively. Each buffer 98, 100 defines a respectiverest position for the movement transfer wheel 96 so that when themovement transfer wheel 96 is against the forward buffer 98, the wheel96 is at a forward rest position and when the wheel 96 is against therearward buffer 100, the wheel 96 is at a rearward rest position.

[0106] Conveniently, the rearward buffer 100 of a rearward wheel housing90 has a resilient backstop 102 on its rearward surface as shown in FIG.9, that bears against a suitable fixed barrier (not shown) to limit therearward travel of the bin 16.

[0107] Secondly, restraining fingers 104, 106 extend from the buffers98, 100 substantially parallel to the base of the wheel channel 92. Thefingers 104, 106, the buffers 98, 100 and the wheel channel 92 definepockets that can receive the movement transfer wheel 86 at therespective rest positions and the resilient fingers 104, 106 preventthat wheel moving away from the wheel channel when at either of thosepositions. Specifically, a forward restraining finger 104 extendsrearwardly from the forward buffer 98 and a rearward restraining finger106 extends forwardly from the rearward buffer 100. The forwardrestraining finger 104 has the additional feature of a free end portion108 bent toward the wheel channel 92 to define an opening narrower thanthe diameter of the associated movement transfer wheel 86. The forwardrestraining finger 104 is resiliently flexible to allow the movementtransfer wheel 86 to pass through the opening into the forward restposition, where the wheel 86 is then engaged and held by the resilienceof the forward restraining finger 104. Moving the movement transferwheel 86 back out of the forward rest position is only possible uponovercoming the resilience of the forward restraining finger 104.

[0108] Thirdly, a track connects the buffer plates 98, 100 to define arunning surface for the movement transfer wheel 86. The track has flatend portion 442 s 110, 112 parallel to the base of the wheel channel 92,namely a forward end portion 110 attached to the base of the wheelchannel 92 and a rearward end portion 112 spaced from the base of thewheel channel 92. Those end portions 110, 112 coincide with the forwardand rearward rest positions of the movement transfer wheel 86 and areconnected by a ramp 114.

[0109] A resilient stud 116 at the junction between the rearward endportion 112 and the ramp 114 creates an obstacle that must be overcomeif the movement transfer wheel 86 is to move out of its rearward restposition and then forwardly along the ramp 114. This stud 116 thereforehelps to keep the movement transfer wheel 86 in its rearward restposition at which the drawer 4 is closed and the bin 16 is sealed to thelid 22. Also, the feel of the drawer movement as the movement transferwheel 86 over-rides the stud 116 gives the user a positive indication ofwhen the drawer 4 and the bin 16 have reached their closed and sealedstates.

[0110] Elegantly, the buffers 98, 100, the track 110, 112, 114 and therestraining fingers 104, 106 are folded or fabricated in a singlecomponent that it simply fixed within the base and side walls of thewheel channel 92, as shown in FIG. 9. The wheel channel 92 spreads theloads applied to the track 110, 112, 114, buffers 98, 100 andrestraining fingers 104, 106 in use, and applies those loads to the bin16 via the flange 94.

[0111] FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) show how the height of the bin 16 withrespect to the runners 74 responds to the position of the movementtransfer wheel 86 within the wheel housing 90. It will be appreciatedfrom FIG. 10(a) that when the movement transfer wheel 86 is in therearward rest position against the rearward buffer 100, the wheelchannel 92 and hence the bin 16 is raised, whereas when the movementtransfer wheel 86 moves along the ramp 114 to the forward rest positionagainst the forward buffer 98, the wheel channel 92 and hence the bin 16is lowered.

[0112] Returning then to FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) to see the bin transportmechanism in operation, FIG. 6(a) shows the bin 16 raised against andsealed to the associated lid 22. In this instance, the bin 16 has beenslid to its rearmost extent, as has the runner 74 with the attachedtransport plate 82. The runner 74 has been slid rearwardly to thatextent by pushing the attached front panel 118 of the drawer 4rearwardly as far as it can go. Consequently, the movement transferwheels 86 supported by the transport plate 82 are forced into therearward rest position with respect to their respective wheel housings90, at which position the wheel channels 92 and hence the bin 16 areraised.

[0113] The left-hand portion of FIG. 6(b) in solid lines shows howopening the drawer 4 by pulling a handle 120 on its front panel 118initially pulls the runner 74 and the attached transport plate 82forwards. The bin 16 does not move forwards during that initial forwardmovement of the front panel 118 and runner 74; instead, the movementtransfer wheels 86 supported by the transport plate 82 move into theforward rest position: this allows the bin 16 to drop away verticallyfrom the lid 22. It will also be apparent that when they reach theirforward rest positions, each movement transfer wheel 86 bears againstthe respective forward buffer 98 and so can transmit continuedhorizontal drawer-opening force to the bin 16. In this way, when the bin16 has cleared the seal 60, the drawer 4 can be opened fully into theposition shown in dashed lines to the right in FIG. 6(b), in which theinterior of the bin 16 is fully accessible. During that movement, theupwardly-bent free end portion 108 of the forward retaining finger 104holds the movement transfer wheel 86 resiliently in the forward restposition so that the bin 16 does not move about unduly with respect tothe runners 74. It will be noted that this opening movement of the bin16 involves no sliding or wiping action across the seal 60.

[0114] When the drawer is fully open, the bin 16 can be removed from theappliance 2. Preferably, the wheel housings 90 joined by the flat bar 96remain behind when the bin 16 is removed in this way. However, it wouldalso be possible to lift the bin 16 together with its wheel housings 90so that the wheel housings 90 are lifted off the movement transferwheels 86. In that event, it will be apparent from FIG. 9 that a gapbetween the free ends of the retaining fingers 104, 106 is just largeenough for a movement transfer wheel 86 to pass through it when the bin16 is lifted in this way. To reach that gap, it may be necessary to pushthe movement transfer wheel 86 rearwardly from the forward rest positionpast the upwardly-bent free end portion 108 of the forward retainingfinger 104.

[0115] FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are akin to FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) but show avariant in which closing a drawer 4 and opening it over the initialrange of movement is lever-assisted. Such assistance may be particularlyuseful when closing a heavily-laden drawer 4, bearing in mind the needto lift the bin 16 slightly over the final portion of the drawer-closingmovement. Elegantly, the front panel 118 of the drawer 4 serves as thelever by being pivotally attached to the runner 74 and/or the transportplate 82 such that the pivot axis 122 lies horizontally just below themid point of the front panel 118. Consequently, when the handle 120 atthe top of the front panel 118 is pulled upon opening the drawer 4, thefront panel 118 pivots about the pivot axis 122 (in a clockwisedirection as drawn) and this causes the lower edge 124 of the frontpanel 118 to press against the lower front part of the bin 16. Thatpressure assists the relative movement between the runner 74 and the bin16 that is necessary for the bin 16 to drop away from the lid 22.

[0116] More specifically, the lower edge 124 of the front panel 118 isassociated with a bar 126 that engages a downwardly-opening hook 128fixed to the front face of the bin 16. As the hook 128 opens downwardly,it allows the bin 16 to move up and down when making or breaking theseal; it also allows the bin 16 to be removed from the appliance 2 bylifting it off the movement transfer wheels 86 as aforesaid. Yet, whenthe drawer 4 is being closed and closing pressure is therefore appliedto the handle 120 at the top edge of the front panel 118 (which causesthe front panel 118 to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction as drawn),the bar 126 applies force to the bin 16 via the hook 126 to hold the bin16 while pushing the runner 74 rearwardly with respect to the bin 16. Itis this relative movement that lifts the bin 16 against the lid 22 andbenefits most from the mechanical advantage afforded by the lever.

[0117] A further feature evident from FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) and FIGS.11(a) and 11(b) is a rack-and-pinion mechanism 130 whose primary purposeis to resist lateral sway of a drawer 4 supported by the runners 74 asit opens and closes. The rack-and-pinion mechanism 130 is also shown inplan view in FIG. 12. In that mechanism, an arm 132 depends rearwardlyand downwardly from the transport plate 82 on each side of a bin 16 (theoutline of which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 12) and terminates ina bearing 134 defining a horizontal axis of rotation below and behindthe rearward face of the bin 16. As can be appreciated from FIG. 12, thebearings 134 of the respective arms 132 align and co-operate to supporta horizontal spindle 136 that spans the gap between the arms 132.

[0118] The spindle 136, in turn, supports a pair of pinions 138 fixed tothe spindle 136 such that one pinion 138 is disposed adjacent each endof the spindle 136, just inboard of each bearing 134 that supports thespindle 136. The pair of pinions 138 are engaged with acorrespondingly-spaced pair of parallel racks 140 that are on top of thelid 22 or other horizontal surface (notably the top surface of the basepanel) below the drawer 4 in question, and extend orthogonally to thespindle 136 from the front to the back of that lid 22 or surface, atleast as far as the opening movement of the drawer 4 dictates.

[0119] In use, when the drawer 4 is being opened or closed, the pinions138 are constrained by the interconnecting spindle 136 to turn with oneanother. Any lateral sway experienced by the drawer 4 tends to move thespindle 136 out of its orthogonal relationship with the racks 140, andso tries to create a speed differential between the pinions 138 as theymove along the racks 140. This conflict therefore causes one pinion 138to apply torque to the other pinion 138 via the spindle 136; that torquetends to correct or at least resist the incipient sway. The spindle 136may twist slightly as a result of the applied torque but this helps toprevent either of the pinions 138 skipping out of engagement with theirracks 140 and hence potentially out of alignment with each other.

[0120]FIG. 12 also shows a limit switch 142 near the rear of one of theracks 140, and a locking solenoid 144 also associated with the rack 140but positioned slightly forward of the limit switch 142. The purpose ofthe locking solenoid 144 is to prevent the associated drawer 4 beingopened, by for example blocking forward movement of the arm 132 thatdepends from the transport plate 82. On the other hand, the limit switch142 interacts with the arm 132 of the transport plate 82, or with thespindle 136 supported by that arm 132, to sense opening and closing ofthe drawer 4.

[0121] By virtue of its rearmost position as shown in FIG. 12, the limitswitch 142 is triggered when the transport plate 82 and its associatedarm 132 is moved into or from its rearmost position consistent withsealing the bin 16 against the lid 22. If the bin 16 is not sealed inthat way, this will be indicated by the transport plate 82 and itsassociated arm 132 being forward of its rearmost position and will besensed by the limit switch 142. In that case, the limit switch 142 canbe used to trigger an alarm (preferably after a timeout period haselapsed) and/or to cause the corresponding solenoids 144 of otherdrawers to lock their drawers 4 closed until the open or unsealed drawer4 has been returned to its closed position and its bin 16 has beensealed against the associated lid 22. This allows only one drawer 4 tobe open at a time and so provides an anti-tilt facility akin to a filingcabinet that, in the context of cold storage, also has the uniquebenefit of limiting cross-contamination between items stored indifferent drawers 4.

[0122] The locking solenoid 144 can also be controlled independently ofa limit switch, for example by connecting all of the solenoids 144 of amulti-drawer appliance 2 to enable central locking of all of its drawers4, preferably by a common key-operated switch (not shown). Preferably,to the benefit of energy consumption, the solenoid 144 unlocks itsdrawer 4 when energised and so locks that drawer 4 when de-energised.More preferably in such an arrangement, all of the drawers 4 remainlocked with their solenoids 144 de-energised until a user-selected oneof the drawers 4 is unlocked by, for example, pressing an appropriatebutton to energise its solenoid 144 or touching a correspondingtouch-switch associated with the handle of that drawer 4. Onceenergised, a solenoid 144 may remain energised constantly until anotherdrawer 4 is selected to be opened; preferably, however, that solenoid144 is de-energised after a timeout period to lock its drawer 4 until auser selects that drawer 4 to be unlocked once more.

[0123] Whilst electric locking solenoids 144 have been mentioned, itwill be clear to the skilled reader that other actuators or lockingmechanisms operating on hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical principlescan be used instead.

[0124] Returning to the appliance 2 itself, FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) showpreferred details of the lids 22 to which the bins 16 seal when fittedin the appliance 2. FIG. 13(a) shows that the lid 22 is oblong in planview. The oblong dashed outlines of features below the lid 22 are alsoapparent. Starting inwardly and moving outwardly, those features are anevaporator 194 disposed centrally on the underside of the lid 22, adrain pan 196 disposed beneath the evaporator 194 to catch water thatdrips from the evaporator 194, and a recess 198 in the underside of thelid 22 that accommodates both the drain pan 196 and the evaporator 194.

[0125] As best appreciated from FIG. 13(b), which is a cross-section online A-A of FIG. 13(a), the recess 198 is bounded by a peripheral skirt200 depending from the lid 22. A pair of oblong compressible seals 60lie one within the other on the lower end face 202 of the skirt 200.Those seals 60 are continuous save for an opening that accommodates anoblong-section drainage duct 204 leading rearwardly from the drain pan196. The drain pan 196 has an inclined base 206 to lead water towardthat drainage duct 204, from which the water is channelled away from thelid 22 as FIG. 14 will explain. A temperature sensor (not shown) canpenetrates the skirt 200 above the seals 60 to measure the temperaturewithin the cavity sealed by the bin 16 and the lid 22.

[0126]FIG. 14 shows how it is preferred that separate drain ducts 208run from each drain pan 196 of a multi-bin appliance 2. This minimisesthe risk of cross-contamination. Each duct 208 includes a U-bend 210defining a sealing water trap and drains separately to a common tray212. That tray 212 may be located above a compressor 214 of theappliance 2 as shown so that, over time, heat emanating from thecompressor 214 evaporates the water from the tray 212 at least asquickly as that water accumulates in the tray 212. In addition or in thealternative, the condenser fan of the appliance 2 (not shown) can blowacross the surface of water in the tray 212 so as to promote itsevaporation.

[0127] FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) show a further lid design suitable for usein a fan coil cooling system in which air is supplied to the bin 16 andextracted from the bin 16 via a remote fan coil unit. Such a system isalso known as a forced air system, and the lid 22 in FIGS. 15(a) and15(b) is hollow and partitioned to govern the flow of air on which suchsystems depend. Thus, cold air cooled by a heat exchanger (not shown) ispiped under pressure from a fan (not shown) into a supply air plenum 216disposed peripherally within the lid 22, from which that air enters thebin through supply air diffusion slots 218 around a base panel 220defining the underside of the lid 22. Warmer air is extracted from thebin 16 through a centrally-disposed return air plenum 222 thatcommunicates with the bin 16 through a central hole 224 in the basepanel 220 and with the fan through a pipe 226 extending through thesurrounding supply air plenum 216. The warmer air is drawn into thereturn air plenum 222 under low pressure created by the fan, and is thensent to the heat exchanger to be cooled and recirculated via the supplyair plenum 216.

[0128] Apart from the vertical array of drawers 4 common to theembodiments described above, a side-by-side arrangement of drawers 4 isalso contemplated as shown in FIGS. 16(a), 16(b) and 16(c). The frontview of FIG. 16(a) shows a four-drawer bench-type appliance 268 (towhich FIGS. 23 and 24 also refer) in which the drawers 4 are in twoadjacent columns of two drawers 4 each. Thus, the appliance 268 is lowenough to have a worktop 270 over the drawers 4, straddling the twocolumns. This embodiment of the invention is therefore suitable for useas a refrigerated food preparation and/or servery unit.

[0129] The depth of the drawers 4 is maximised within the limitedavailable height by mounting the refrigerator engine 272 and controlpanel 274 in a side-slung position to one side of the appliance 268 asshown. Also, the side view of FIG. 16(b) and the enlarged detailcross-sectional view of FIG. 16(c), taken on line X-X of FIG. 16(a),shows that the front edge of the worktop 270 has a raised lip 276 thathelps to prevent spillages on the worktop 270 dripping down onto or intothe drawers 4 below.

[0130] FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) also show how an appliance 268 of theinvention can be mounted on castors 278; those castors 278 can beheight-adjustable to level the appliance 268 on a non-level floor 280.

[0131] Referring now to FIGS. 17 to 24, these show two further bintransport mechanisms being alternatives to those shown in FIGS. 6 to 11above. They address potential disadvantages of the previously-describedbin transport mechanisms. One disadvantage is that when the drawer ofthe FIGS. 6 to 11 embodiments is extended and is pushed sharply whenbeing closed, the wheels 86 will tend to travel up the ramps 114 beforethe rearward drawer movement is complete, so raising the bin 16 andpossibly risking a clash when the rear top edge of the bin 16 encountersthe front lower edge of the lid 22. A steady motion is thereforeessential to return the drawer to its fully closed position beforefurther pressure pushes the wheels 86 up the ramps 114 to seal the bin16 to the lid 22. Another disadvantage is that the wheel spindles 88take the weight of the bin 16 and the seal compression forces, whichincreases the risk of failure.

[0132] Looking firstly at FIGS. 17(a) to 17(c), the bin transportmechanism on each side of the bin 16 comprises a transport plate 408fixed to a telescopic runner 410, the transport plate 408 lyinggenerally vertically beside the bin 16. Unlike the embodiments of FIGS.6 to 11, the transport plate 408 extends downwardly below the bin 16 toterminate in an inwardly-directed flange 412 disposed orthogonally withrespect to the transport plate 408. The flange 412 lies between theunderside of the bin 16 and the lid 22 of the bin 16 below, or anequivalent structure, and is connected to the lid 22 of the bin 16below, or the equivalent structure, via a telescopic runner 414 thatlies horizontally. The purpose of that runner 414 is to resist lateralsway of a drawer 4 supported by a pair of runners 410 as it opens andcloses. Such an anti-sway runner 414 can be to one side of the bin 16,to both sides of the bin 16 or can be disposed centrally within respectto the bin 16.

[0133] Vertically-oriented movement transfer wheels 416 are disposed inpairs, each pair comprising one wheel 416 disposed above the other forrolling contact between them while transmitting bin weight and sealcompression loads from one wheel 416 to the other. The pairs of movementtransfer wheels 416 are disposed one pair forward, one pair rearward oneach transport plate 408 to each side of the bin 16.

[0134] The wheels 416 of each pair are rotatably attached by respectivehorizontal spindles 418 to a wheel plate 420 that floats verticallywithin a pocket defined by a wheel bracket 422 attached to the transportplate 408. The wheel plate 420 is free to move vertically within thepocket but is restrained against falling out of the pocket by aretaining flange 424 on its upper end. The flange 424 defines a shoulderthat bears against the wheel bracket 422 at the top edge of the pocketwhen the wheel plate 420 is at its lowest point within the pocket.

[0135] A transport plate 408 fitted with wheel brackets 422 eachcarrying a respective wheel plate 420 and a pair of wheels 416 is shownin FIG. 19.

[0136] The upper wheel 416 of each pair is received by and constrainedto move in a respective wheel housing. Each wheel housing comprises awheel channel defined between a cover plate 426 that partially shroudsthe wheel bracket 422, and an inverted L-section 428 that bears againstand supports a horizontal shoulder surface under an overhanging flange430 projecting from the wall of the bin 16. The flange 430 extendsaround the front, sides and rear of the bin 16 and the L-section 428forms part of a bin support frame 432 illustrated in FIG. 20. The flange430 that extends around the bin 16 sits on the frame 432 in such mannerthat the bin 16 can be lifted out of the frame 432.

[0137] Each upper wheel 416 can move forwardly and rearwardly within itsassociated wheel housing to a limited extent with respect to the bin 16,and each wheel housing has formations associated with the wheel channelthat constrain and control the movement of the upper wheel 416 withrespect to the bin 16. Those formations are best shown in isolation inthe detail view of FIG. 21 of the drawings.

[0138] Forward and rearward buffers 434, 436 limit forward and rearwardmovement of the upper wheel 416 with respect to the bin 16, and a track438 connects the buffers 434, 436 to define a running surface for theupper wheel. The buffers 434, 436 and the track 438 are folded orfabricated in a single housing component 440. The track 438 has a flatend portion 442 at its forward end adjacent the forward buffer 434,parallel to the base of the wheel channel. Moving rearwardly from theflat end portion 442, the track 438 defines a forward ramp portion 444that slants downwardly and a rearward ramp portion 446 that slantsupwardly to the rearward buffer 436, the ramp portions 444, 446 betweenthem defining an inverted ridge 448.

[0139] The wheel housings are part of a bin support frame 432 shown inFIG. 20 that defines the wheel channel and supports the housingcomponents 440 defining the buffers 434, 436 and tracks 438. The fronthousing component 440 is lower than the rear housing component 440 byvirtue of a packing strip 450 between the L-section 428 and the fronthousing component 440.

[0140]FIG. 20 also shows that the rear of the bin support frame 432comprises a rear bin support channel 452 that carries a support bracket454. An engaging lever 456 is pivotally attached by a spindle 458 to thesupport bracket 454 for limited movement about a horizontal pivot axis.The lever 456 comprises an arm 460 extending forwardly from the spindle458 and a crank 462 depending rearwardly and downwardly from the spindle458, the crank 462 terminating in a leg 464. The weight and length ofthe arm 460 creates a torque acting about the spindle 458 that exceedsthe opposing torque created by the weight and length of the crank 462and leg 464. Thus, gravity biases the lever 456 which tends to pivotclockwise as shown, with the arm 460 moving downwardly. However, thelever 460 cannot reach an equilibrium position of balance about thepivot: instead, the movement of the arm 460 is restrained byencountering a rearward extension 466 of the transport plate 408 as thebin 16 moves forwardly with respect to the arm 460, as will be explainedbelow with reference to FIGS. 22(a) to 22(d).

[0141] As will also be explained with reference to those Figures, astriker plate 468 is fixed to the structure of the appliance at the rearof the drawer compartment and the leg 464 of the crank 462 is positionedto bear against the striker plate 468 when the drawer is closed. Thislifts the arm 460 of the lever out of engagement with the rearwardextension 466 of the transport plate 408.

[0142] A resilient back-stop 470 fixed to the structure of the appliancebears against the support bracket 454 when the drawer is closed so as tolimit the rearward travel of the bin 16.

[0143] As best shown in FIG. 17(c) and FIGS. 22(a) to 22(d), a shelf 472faces inwardly from the structure of the appliance to one side of thebin 16, just above the runner 410. Platforms 474 are disposed oneforwardly and one rearwardly on the upper face of the shelf 472 tocorrespond to the positions of the wheel pairs 416. A packing strip 450between the rearward platform 474 and the shelf 472 corresponds to thepacking strip 450 between the front housing component 440 and theL-section 428.

[0144] The purpose of the two packing strips 450 is to ensure that thelower wheel 416 of the rearward pair clears the forward platform 474 asthe bin 16 is opened on its runners 410.

[0145] The forward end of each platform 474 is tapered to define a rampup which the lower wheel 416 of the respective pair can run to mount theplatform 474. The weight of the bin 16 is then borne by the shelf 472via the wheels 416 (whose spindles 458 bear no load), the track 438 onwhich the upper wheel 416 runs, the L-section 428 forming part of thebin support frame 432, and the flange 430 that extends around the bin 16and sits on the frame 432.

[0146] FIGS. 22(a), 22(b), 22(c) and 22(d) show the bin transportmechanism in operation, with reference to a rearward pair of wheels 416with its associated wheel housing, wheel bracket 422 and wheel plate420. It will be apparent that the movement of the forward pair of wheels416 with respect to its associated wheel housing broadly corresponds tothat of the rearward pair of wheels 416 shown in these Figures.

[0147]FIG. 22(a) shows the bin 16 raised against and sealed to theassociated lid 22. In this instance, the bin 16 has been slid to itsrearmost extent defined by abutment of the support bracket 454 with theresilient back-stop 470, as has the runner 410 with the attachedtransport plate 408. Consequently, the pair of wheels 416 supported bythe transport plate 408 via the wheel bracket 422 and wheel plate 420 isforced into a rearward position with respect to its wheel housing, atwhich position the upper wheel 416 of the pair is on the rearward rampportion 446 near the ridge 448. Simultaneously, the lower wheel 416 ofthe pair is supported by the platform 474 to transfer loads between thebin 16 and the shelf 472 that holds the platform 474. Thus, the wheelchannels and hence the bin 16 are raised, compressing the seal (notshown) between the bin 16 and the lid 22. It will also be noted that theleg 464 of the crank 462 bears against the striker plate 468, whichlifts the arm 460 of the lever 456.

[0148]FIG. 22(b) shows the next step, in which the transport plate 408has been pulled forward such that the pair of wheels 416 adopts aforward position with respect to its wheel housing. At this position,the upper wheel 416 of the pair has surmounted the ridge 448, rolledalong the forward ramp portion 444 and onto the flat end portion 442 ofthe track 438 adjacent the forward buffer 434. The ridge 448 thereforeacts as a detent against opening that holds the drawer closed, but canbe overcome with minimal effort upon opening.

[0149] At the stage shown in FIG. 22(b), the lower wheel 416 of the pairis still supported by the platform 474 to bear the weight of the bin 16,but the position of the upper wheel 416 in the flat end portion 442 ofthe track 438 allows the bin 16 to drop away from the lid 22, breakingthe seal before the bin 16 moves in an opening direction. Otherwise, thebin 16 remains in much the same position as shown in FIG. 22(a). Inparticular, the leg 464 of the crank 462 still bears against the strikerplate 468, which holds up the arm 460 of the lever 456.

[0150] When opening movement of the bin 16 begins, as shown in FIG.22(c), the pivot 458 of the lever 456 moves away from the striker plate468, which allows the arm 460 of the lever 456 to drop into engagementwith the rearward extension 466 of the transport plate 408. Thatengagement is maintained, locking the transport mechanism, until thedrawer again nears its closed position upon closing. At that stage, theleg 464 of the crank 462 bears against the striker plate 468 and liftsthe arm 460 out of engagement with the rearward extension 466 of thetransport plate 408 to free the transport mechanism once again.

[0151] As the drawer opens further, the weight of the bin 16 must atsome stage transfer from the shelf 472 within the drawer compartment tothe runners 410 extending outside the drawer compartment. This isachieved when the lower wheel 416 clears the ramped forward end of theplatform 474 as shown in FIG. 22(d), which allows the bin 16 to dropinto contact with the inwardly-facing flange 412 at the bottom of thetransport plate 408. As the transport plate 408 is supported by therunners 410, the load transfers to the runners 410. Meanwhile, the wheelplate 420 drops to the extent permitted by the retaining flange 424,clearing the upper wheel 416 from the track 438. The wheels 416 then nolonger bear the weight of the bin 16.

[0152] It will be evident that when the drawer is closed again, thelower wheel 416 encounters the ramped forward end of the platform 474,lifts the wheel plate 420 and hence lifts the upper wheel 416 intocontact with the track 438. This transfers the load of the bin 16 backto the shelf 472 within the drawer compartment, via the track 438, thewheels 416 and the platform 474.

[0153] The variant in FIGS. 23(a) and 23(b) and FIGS. 24(a) to 24(c)replaces the wheels 416 and their associated structures with pairs ofopposed blocks 476 that slide relative to one another and are shaped toimpart the desired motion and sequence of motions to the bin 16.Otherwise, like numerals are used for like parts.

[0154] Each block 476 is of plastics material coated or impregnatedwith, for example, PTFE to minimise friction. Broadly, each block 476defines a contact surface comprising two horizontal portions linked by aslope, the horizontal portions thus being at different levels.Specifically, all of the blocks have contact surfaces that rise towardthe front of the appliance. Thus, a rearward horizontal portion 478 islower than a forward horizontal portion 480 of each contact surface andthe slope 482 between those portions 478, 480 rises moving forwardly.

[0155] The lower block 476 of each pair is attached to the transportplate 408 and its contact surface faces generally upwardly, whereas theupper block 476 of each pair is attached to an L-section 428 thatsupports the flange 430 of a bin 16 and its contact surface facesgenerally downwardly. The thickest part of the lower block 476 is at itsforward end defined by its forward horizontal portion 480 whereas thethickest part of the upper block 476 is at its rearward end defined byits rearward horizontal portion 478. Thus, the contact surfaces of theupper and lower blocks 476 of a pair are opposed and complementary inshape. Indeed, the respective contact surfaces can mate with each otherwhen the blocks 476 of a pair are aligned.

[0156] A lug 484 depends from the forward end of the upper block 476 toprevent forward movement of the lower block 476 past the upper block 476when the drawer is opened.

[0157] When the drawer is closed and the bin 16 is sealed to the lid 22as shown in FIG. 24(a), the transport plate 408 and hence the lowerblocks 476 are fully rearward. This brings the forward horizontalportion 480 of the lower block contact surface into register with therearward horizontal portion 478 of the upper block contact surface. Putanother way, the thickest parts of the blocks 476 coincide and hence theaggregate thickness of the pair of blocks 476 is at a maximum. Thisforces the bin 16 upwards into sealing contact with the lid 22, althoughthe seal is not shown.

[0158] Referring now to FIG. 24(b), when the runner 410 and transportplate 408 moves to the right as drawn as part of the initial openingmovement of the drawer, the lower block 476 moves forwardly with respectto the upper block 476. This movement continues until the lower block476 encounters the lug 484 that depends from the forward end of theupper block 476 and so no further relative movement of the blocks 476can occur during drawer opening. At that stage, the blocks 476 arealigned and their opposed, complementary contact surfaces mate with eachother. The effect of this is that the thickest part of each block 476coincides with the thinnest part of the other block 476, and so theaggregate thickness of the pair of blocks 476 is at a minimum. Thisallows the bin 16 to fall away from the lid 22 and hence breaks theseal.

[0159] As the lug 484 that depends from the forward end of the upperblock 476 then prevents further relative movement of the blocks 476during drawer opening, horizontal force applied to the lower block 476via the transport plate 408 is transmitted to the upper block 476 andhence pulls the bin 16 horizontally within its support frame 432. Thisis shown in

[0160]FIG. 24(c), which like FIG. 22(c) above also shows how the arm 460of the lever 456 engages a rearward extension 466 of the transport plate408 as the drawer is opened and the pivot 458 of the lever 456 movesaway from the striker plate 468 within the drawer compartment.

[0161] FIGS. 24(a), 24(b) and 24(c) are akin to FIGS. 22(a), 22(b) and22(c) in their progression but as the weight of the bin 16 is at alltimes carried by the runners 410 via the transport plate 408 and theblocks 476, there is no need for the bin 16 to be lowered onto theflange 412 of the transport plate 408 in the manner of FIG. 22(d) inwhich the wheels 416 are uncoupled from the bin 16.

[0162] Another deficiency with drawers is the effect on the drawercontents during rapid changes in velocity (i.e. sudden acceleration anddeceleration), as tends to happen on opening and closing. When thedrawer is moved suddenly or is stopped quickly, the contents of thedrawer can be thrown around causing damage to delicate items and/orspillage of liquids. Depending upon what is in the drawer, this couldaffect items such as cakes and pastries, liquids in jars and bottles,rare samples and artefacts. The damage caused could range from annoyingwastage of inexpensive items and a mess to clean up, through to loss orirreparable damage to irreplaceable samples or artefacts. It istherefore advantageous for a drawer transport system to controlacceleration and deceleration or braking during opening and closing toprotect the drawer contents.

[0163] Moving on therefore to FIG. 25 and its associated cross-section,FIG. 26, these show a further embodiment in which like numerals are usedfor like parts. In this embodiment, a drawer lid 22 is fixed to astructure and a removable drawer storage bin 16 is movable with respectto the lid 22 and the structure. The bin 16 is supported from a topflange 500 formed in the bin 16. The flange 500 in turn sits on a drawersupport profile 502, which is fitted with forward and rearward wheelramps 504 as detailed in FIG. 27. The wheel ramps 504 sit uponfreely-rotating load-bearing wheels 506, attached to the top section 508of a telescopic drawer runner 510. Supporting the bin 16 in this way viawheel ramps 504 on the drawer profile 502 and wheels 506 fitted to therunner 510 allows the bin 16 to move independently of the runner 510.

[0164]FIG. 27 shows that as in the embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 24, thewheel ramps 504 are defined by a wheel housing 512. The wheel housing512 comprises forward and rearward buffers 514, 516 that limit forwardand rearward movement of a wheel 506 with respect to the bin 16, and atrack 518 which connects the buffers 514, 516 to define a runningsurface for the wheel 506. The buffers 514, 516 and the track 518 areagain folded or fabricated in a single component.

[0165] The track 518 has an upwardly- and forwardly-inclined forward endportion 520 at its forward end adjacent the forward buffer 514. Therearward end of the forward end portion 520 defines a ridge 522 in thetrack 518. Moving rearwardly from there, the track 518 defines a restposition between opposed upwardly-inclined ramp portions 524, 526 andafter a further ridge 528, ends in an upwardly- and rearwardly-inclinedrear end portion 530 adjacent the rearward buffer 516.

[0166] The rest position at the apex 532 of the intersecting rampportions 524, 526 is above the level of the ridges 522, 528; were thehousing 512 inverted, this apex 532 would be a trough between the ridges522, 528.

[0167]FIG. 25 shows the drawer closed with the bin 16 raised and thehorizontal seal (not shown) compressed, with each wheel 506 at therearward end of its housing 512 adjacent the rearward buffer 516. Itwill be noted that the radius of the wheel 506 is slightly less than thedistance from the rearward buffer 516 to the rearward ridge 528. Thus,the centre of the wheel 506 is marginally rearward of the rearward ridge528, so that the wheel 506 is biased rearwardly up the rear end portion530 of the track 518 under the weight of the bin 16. This provides anover-centre locking effect, which can be readily overcome.

[0168] As detailed in FIGS. 28 and 29, each load-bearing wheel 506(shown here inverted) is associated with a pair of auxiliary rollers 534angularly spaced about the spindle 536 of the wheel 506, opposed to thepoint of rolling contact between the wheel 506 and the track 518 of thewheel housing 512. The auxiliary rollers 534 are in rolling contact withthe wheel 506 and help to bear the load of the bin 16, taking loadstransmitted across the wheel 506.

[0169] It can be seen in FIG. 25 that the drawer runners 510 extendrearward of the bin 16 to allow additional horizontal movement of therunners 510 beyond that of the bin 16. This additional horizontalmovement of the runners 510 with respect to the bin 16 will take placeon initial opening and on final closing of the drawer. On opening thedrawer, this extra runner movement moves the wheels 506 forwardly alongtheir tracks 518 to drop the bin 16 vertically and so to de-compress theseal on initial opening. In doing so, a wheel 506 takes a mid positionat or near the apex 532 of its track 518 as the bin 16 is withdrawn withthe runner 510. On returning the bin 16 and runner 510 to the closedposition, the bin 16 hits a stop at its completely closed position, witheach wheel 506 still at the apex 532 of its track 518. The final closingmotion pushes the wheels 506 rearwardly along the tracks 518 to theover-centre locking point shown in FIG. 25, which raises the bin 16 andcompresses the seal against the lid 22.

[0170] The full drawer transport sequence is illustrated in FIGS. 30(a)to 30(f). FIG. 30(a) corresponds to FIG. 25, showing the drawer closedand the bin 16 raised to compress the horizontal seal (not shown), withthe wheels 506 at the rearward end of their wheel housings 512. FIG.30(b) shows the drawer runner 510 forward of the closed position wherethe wheels 506 have moved along the respective tracks 518 to amid-position at the apex 532 and released the seal, and where the bin 16has dropped down but has not moved forward. FIG. 30(c) shows the runner510 and bin 16 in a semi-open position, whereas FIG. 30(d) shows therunner 510 and bin 16 in a fully-open position. FIG. 30(e) shows therunner 510 and bin 16 in a semi-closed position, while FIG. 30(f) showsthe bin 16 in its closed but dropped position with the runner 510slightly forward of the closed position, in readiness for the finalclosing action of pushing the wheels 506 rearwardly along the tracks 518to raise the bin 16 and compress the seal, whereupon the sequencereturns to its starting point at FIG. 30(a).

[0171] A variation on the above arrangement would be to make the wheeltracks 518 out of a low-friction material such as PTFE or a PTFE-coatedmaterial, with a suitable PTFE or PTFE-coated profile fixed to therunner 510 instead of a wheel 506.

[0172] The embodiment of FIGS. 25 to 30 also includes means forpartially isolating the movement of the runner 510 from that of the bin16, thus reducing acceleration and braking forces imparted to the bin16. The system of wheel housings 512 fixed in relation to the bin, andthe wheels 506 fixed to the runners but floating within the wheelhousings 512 permits limited independent movement between the bin 16 andthe runner 510. Thus, sudden acceleration and deceleration to the runner510 can be partially absorbed by limited independent movement of the bin16, which reduces the rate of change in bin velocity and hence theinertial effects experienced by items stored in the bin 16.

[0173] It will be noted that when the accelerations of the bin 16 andrunner 510 are near equilibrium, the wheel 506 will sit around thecentral rest point at the apex 532 of the wheel track 518. When therunner acceleration changes rapidly, such as hitting an end stop or whenthe drawer is jerked open, the direction and motion of the bin 16 willcontinue as the wheel moves along the track 518 from the apex 532 towardone of the ridges 522, 528. This vertical movement up theupwardly-inclined ramp portions 524, 526 against the weight of theloaded bin 16 absorbs some of the kinetic energy in the bin 16, and thusslows it to a gentler stop.

[0174] A further refinement of the embodiment of FIGS. 25 to 30 is acontrol damper. Referring especially now to FIG. 31, this shows a simplepiston-operated air damper 538 to restrict the acceleration and brakingof the drawer runner. The damper has a cylinder 540 whose rear endterminates in a pin 542 that is fixed to the structure of the applianceat its rear. A rod 544 slides within the cylinder 540 and has a piston546 at one end, slideably sealed within the cylinder 540, and anotherpin 542 at the other end for attachment to the bottom section 548 of therunner 510 as shown in FIGS. 30(a) to 30(f). As the rod 544 and piston546 are pulled from the cylinder 540, air is drawn though a smallorifice 550 in the blind end of the cylinder 540. The orifice 550 issized such that below a limiting piston speed, the passage of airthrough the orifice 550 causes little resistance (i.e. differentialpressure over the orifice 550) and the rod 544 can be moved easily. Asthe speed of the piston 546 increases, then so does the resistanceacross the orifice 550 making the rod 544 more difficult to extend orretract. Speed control of the piston rod 544 is achieved because theinverse square law applies, whereby a doubling in airflow through theorifice 550 produces a fourfold increase in resistance on the rod 544.

[0175] The purpose of the damper 538 is to control the speed of therunner 510 from mid-point to fully open, also from mid-point to fullyclosed, preventing a jarring stop in both directions. Alternatively,dampers 538 could be fitted to both sections of the runner 510 toprovide speed control over the entire travel of the runner 510.

[0176] Referring back to FIGS. 30(a) to 30(f), the damper controlsequence will now be described. FIG. 30(a) shows the bin 16 in theclosed position with the runners 510 and damper 538 fully retracted.FIG. 30(b) shows the bin 16 released from its seal with the top section508 of the runner 510 extended and the bottom section 548 of the runner510 restrained by the damper 538. FIG. 30(c) shows the bin 16 at aboutmid-point in opening with the top section 508 of the runner 510 fullyextended and the bottom section 548 of the runner 510 still restrainedby the damper 538. FIG. 30(d) shows the bin 16 fully open with bothrunner sections 508, 548 and the damper 538 fully extended, indicatingthat the damper 538 had control over the last part of the bin openingmovement. FIG. 30(e) shows the bin 16 at about mid-point in closing withthe top section 508 of the runner 510 fully retracted and the bottomsection 548 of the runner 510 fully extended and restrained by thedamper 538. FIG. 30(f) shows the bin 16 and top section 508 of therunner 510 fully retracted with the bottom section 548 of the runner 510and the damper 538 significantly retracted, indicating that the damper538 had control over the last part of the bin closing movement.

[0177] FIGS. 32(a) to 32(f) show a refinement of the damper concept, inwhich the piston 552 is itself a cylinder sliding concentrically withinthe outer cylinder 554. The outer cylinder 554 has no orifices and issealed to the piston 552 by a sealing gland 556 between the piston 552and the outer cylinder 554 near the otherwise open end of the outercylinder 554. The piston 552, on the other hand, has a series oforifices 558 spaced along the length of the piston 552.

[0178] It will be self-evident that when the piston 552 is forced intothe outer cylinder 554, the piston 552 will compress air trapped withinthe outer cylinder 554. That compressed air can only escape from theouter cylinder 554 by passing through the cylindrical piston 552 via oneor more orifices 558 lying within the outer cylinder 554 and one or moreorifices 558 lying outside the outer cylinder 554. However, when thepiston 552 is fully retracted within the outer cylinder 554 as shown inFIG. 32(a), all of the orifices 558 are within the outer cylinder 554:none of the orifices 558 can communicate within the outside, so there isno net flow or air out of the outer cylinder 554. This traps compressedair, which provides a cushioning effect as the damper approaches itsfully retracted state.

[0179] Conversely, when the damper is in a semi-extended orsemi-retracted state as shown for example in FIGS. 32(c) or 32(d), morethan one orifice 558 is within the outer cylinder 554 and more than oneorifice 558 is outside: this presents minimum resistance to air flow andso minimises the damping effect when the damper is in mid-stroke.However, when the damper nears the fully-extended state as in FIG.32(f), only one orifice 558 is within the outer cylinder 554 and whilstseveral orifices 558 are outside, the airflow through them is limited bythe airflow through the single orifice 558 within: this presents greaterresistance to air flow and so maximises the damping effect when thedamper nears the end of its stroke. Eventually, when the damper is fullyextended (not shown), all of the orifices 558 may be outside the outercylinder, so again, airflow is blocked. Continued extension of thedamper in this state is strongly resisted by low pressure within theouter cylinder 554, but again in a cushioned manner.

[0180] Further enhancements to the drawer transport system will now bedescribed. They include methods to limit the independent movementbetween the runner and bin, and alternative end-of-travel restraints.

[0181] It will be apparent that the system employing wheel ramps andwheels as illustrated in FIGS. 25 to 30 will raise the bin 16 when therunners 510 are rapidly accelerated in mid-travel. Where this is notdesirable, a movement limiting system may be employed as shown in FIGS.33(a) to 33(e). FIG. 33(a) shows a drawer transport system with the bin16 closed with its seal 600 compressed against a lid 22, supported by awheel 506 parked on a flat portion 602 of the rear part of a wheel track518. To drop the bin 16 to open it and break the seal, the wheel 506moves forwardly along the wheel track 518 out of the parked position. Inthis state, the three dashed line circles shown on the wheel track 518indicate the rearward and forward travel limits and the normal centreposition of the wheel 506. Rearward bin movement in relation to therunner 510 is limited by the assembly including the wheel 506encountering the forward buffer 514 at the front of the wheel track 518.

[0182] A pivoting engaging lever 604 is attached by a spindle 606 to asupport plate 608 that travels with the wheel track 518 and so moves inrelation to the runner 510. The lever 604 pivots to limit the forwardmovement of the bin 16 in relation to the runner 510 during normal binmovement. Specifically, when the drawer is opened, the front end of thelever 604 drops down under gravity and engages with a stop plate 610attached to the runner 510. This engagement between lever and stop platelimits the forward motion of the bin 16 in relation to the runner 510,and so prevents the wheel 506 travelling the full length of the track518 into the parked position 602, in which the bin 16 is raised.

[0183] To remove the forward limit by disengaging the lever 604 from thestop plate 610, the rear of the engaging lever 604 hits a striker plate612 fixed to the structure just as the bin 16 reaches its finalhorizontal closed position. In this way, the lever 604 pivots in anopposite sense to free the bin 16 for forward movement so as to enablethe wheel 506 to travel the full length of the track 518 into the parkedposition 602, in which the bin 16 is raised and the seal 600 iscompressed during the final closing motion of the drawer.

[0184]FIG. 33(a) shows a bin 16 in a closed and raised position with theseal 600 compressed. The rear of the lever 604 is firmly against thestriker plate 612 so that the lever 604 is disengaged from the stopplate 610 and the wheel 506 is free to move the full length of the track518.

[0185]FIG. 33(b) shows the bin 16 in a closed position but lowered sothat the seal 600 is released. The rear of the lever 604 is still firmlyagainst the striker plate 612 so that the lever 604 is disengaged andthe bin movement is not limited. However, relative movement between therunner 510 and the bin 16 means that the wheel 506is now located at themid-point of the wheel track 518.

[0186]FIG. 33(c) shows the bin 16 in a partially open position with theseal 600 released. The rear of the lever 604 has moved away from thestriker plate 612 so that the front of the lever 604 is free to drop andhas engaged with the stop plate 610, so that bin movement is nowlimited. The wheel 506 is still located at the midpoint of the wheeltrack 518 and the bin 16 can move forward or backward by a limitedamount relative to the runner 510, as the wheel 506 travels along theinclined portions of the wheel track 518 either forwardly or rearwardly(or more precisely, as the track travels with respect to the wheel).However, the load of the bin 16 and its contents biases the wheel 506 tothe mid-point of the track 518.

[0187]FIG. 33(d) shows the bin 16 in a partially open position withforward movement of the bin 16 relative to the runner 510, as the draweris being closed. The wheel 506 is now at the rearward limit of the wheeltrack 518 and the bin 16 is prevented from further forward movement withrespect to the runner 510 by the engaging lever 604 bearing against thestop plate 610 on the runner 510. In effect, the bin 16 and the runner510 are now locked together during continued closing movement of thedrawer, until the rear end of the lever 604 encounters the striker plate612 and releases the bin 16 for further forward movement with respect tothe runner 510.

[0188]FIG. 33(e) shows the bin 16 in a partially open position withrearward movement of the bin 16 relative to the runner 510, as wouldhappen if the drawer is jerked open. The wheel 506 is now located at theforward limit of the wheel track 518 and the bin 16 is prevented fromfurther rearward movement with respect to the runner 510 by the wheelassembly 506 hitting the forward buffer 514.

[0189]FIG. 33(d) and 33(e) show how movement of the bin 16 relative tothe runner 510 causes vertical movement of the wheel track 514, whichbrakes the velocity of the bin 16. As this happens, the independenthorizontal movement of the bin 16 increases the time allowed for thischange in velocity to take place, hence resulting in a smoother binstop. Otherwise, depending upon how roughly a drawer is handled in use,the bin 16 could come to a sudden stop at each end of travel, eitherclosed-to-open or open-to-closed, which can disturb stored objects andspill liquids within the bin 16.

[0190] Further to reduce rapid deceleration of the bin 16 at each end oftravel, end-of-travel restraints can be used. For example, as the bin 16is about to reach the final closed position, a flexible restrainingplate on the runner can hit a striker plate on the structure thattemporarily slows the runner and then releases it. Slowing the runner,but not the bin, allows the bin to move rearwardly independently of therunner, which absorbs some of the bin's momentum and so reduces inertialeffects upon the stored products as the bin thereafter comes to a halt.

[0191] FIGS. 34 to 36 show a flexible sprung angled restraining plate614 attached by a hinge 616 to the underside of the runner 510. Theplate is essentially a strip formed in a right-angle and hinged at itsapex between two mutually-orthogonal legs 618, 620. Normally one leg 618lies horizontally against the underside of the runner 510 and the otherleg 620 hangs vertically with the aid of a counter-balance weight 622.

[0192]FIG. 34 shows the restraining plate resisting movement in arestraining phase as it is forced past a striker plate 624 fixed to thestructure. Continued movement of the runner 510 deflects the leg (shownby the dashed line) until it has deflected sufficiently to pass over thestriker plate 624, thus ending the restraining phase. FIG. 35 shows therunner 510 returning in the opposite direction; in this case, as the leg620 reaches the striker plate, the entire restraining plate 614 pivotseasily about the hinge 616 into the position shown by dashed lines.Thus, in this direction, the restraining plate 614 offers no resistanceto the drawer movement.

[0193] In practice, restraining plates 614 and striker plates 624 willbe used in opposed pairs as shown in FIGS. 37(a) to 37(f). Thesedrawings show the location of forward and rearward restraining plates614 on the underside of the runner 510 and the associated striker plates624 located on the structure. The forward striker plate 624 initiatesthe opening restraining end stop and the rearward striker plate 624initiates the closing restraining end stop.

[0194] When the drawer opening is in a mid position shown in FIG. 37(a),the restraining plates 614 do not encounter the associated strikerplates 624. FIG. 37(b) shows a drawer almost completely open with theforward restraining plate 614 engaging and deflecting around the forwardstriker plate 624, hence slowing the drawer as it nears the end of itsopening movement. FIG. 37(c) shows the drawer completely open with theforward restraining plate 614 having passed over the striker plate 624.Conversely, FIG. 37(d) shows the drawer almost completely closed withthe rearward restraining plate 614 engaging the rearward striker plate624 to slow bin movement near the end of the closing movement, and FIG.37(e) shows the drawer with the bin 16 fully closed, but not yet raised,and the rearward restraining plate 614 having passed over the rearwardstriker plate 624. FIG. 37(f) shows a drawer completely closed with thebin 16 raised and the seal compressed; again, the restraining plates 614do not encounter the associated striker plates 624.

[0195] Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. Forexample, it has already been said that movement of a lid can be linkedto the movement of the associated bin or of a movable support for thatbin, so that initial opening movement of the bin or its support causesthe lid to move apart from the bin and, vice-versa, at or toward the endof a closing movement of the bin or its support. The skilled reader willappreciate that the various bin transport mechanisms described above canbe adapted and inverted to drive the vertical movement of a lid insteadof the vertical movement of a bin, simply by acting upon an extension ofthe lid overhanging the bin rather than upon the bin itself.

[0196] The invention has wide-ranging applications and benefits forstoring, handling, distributing, transporting and delivering items inthe right condition, notably:

[0197] precise variable temperature and humidity control that could eveninclude heating rather than merely cooling;

[0198] mechanical protection of stored items;

[0199] sterile storage with minimal risk of cross-contamination;

[0200] the option of storage in partial vacuum conditions;

[0201] the option of storage in a preservative holding gas environment;

[0202] isolation of stored items against vibration and agitation; and

[0203] containment of, or protection against, radiation and bio hazards.

[0204] In general, therefore, reference should be made to the appendedclaims and other general statements herein rather than to the foregoingspecific description as indicating the scope of the invention. Ininterpreting the invention, it should be understood that althoughfeatures of the illustrated embodiments have been described incombination with each other and although such combinations may haveadvantages of their own, many of those features can be appliedindependently. For example, the skilled reader will appreciate that thedamper of FIGS. 32(a) to 32(f) could be used independently of acold-storage appliance or other storage unit. So, those features areconsidered to be independently patentable whether within or beyond theinventive concepts expressed herein.

1. A storage unit including: an open-topped drawer; a lid adapted toclose the open top of the drawer; and a structure supporting the drawerand the lid; wherein the drawer is mounted to the structure for movementrelative to the structure and the lid to open the drawer and affordaccess to its interior or to close the drawer, and wherein said movementof the drawer includes: a major component to open the drawer and affordaccess to its interior or to close the drawer; and a minor component,transverse to the major component, to separate the drawer from the lidat the beginning of said major component upon opening or to bring thedrawer and the lid together at the end of said major component uponclosing.
 2. The unit of claim 1, embodied as a cold storage appliancecomprising: an open-topped insulating container being the drawer; aninsulating lid adapted to close the open top of the container; a coolingmeans adapted to cool the interior of the container; and a structuresupporting the container, the lid and the cooling means; wherein thecontainer is mounted to the structure for movement relative to thestructure and the lid to open the container and afford access to itsinterior or to close the container, and wherein said movement of thecontainer includes: a major component to open the container and affordaccess to its interior or to close the container; and a minor component,transverse to the major component, to free the container from the lid atthe beginning of said major component upon opening or to bring thecontainer and the lid together at the end of said major component uponclosing.
 3. The unit of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the minor componenttakes place before the major component upon opening and after the majorcomponent upon closing.
 4. The unit of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein theminor component takes place during initial movement in the direction ofthe major component upon opening and during final movement in thedirection of the major component upon closing.
 5. The unit of anypreceding claim, comprising support means movable to support the drawerduring the major component and transport means between the support meansand the drawer that responds to movement of the support means to effectthe minor component.
 6. The unit of claim 5, further including lockingmeans for releasably locking the transport means to prevent movement ofthe drawer in the direction of the minor component.
 7. The unit of claim6, wherein the locking means is responsive to the position of the drawerin the direction of the major component and locks the transport meansduring part of a range of movement of the support means in the directionof the major component.
 8. The unit of claim 7, wherein the lockingmeans unlocks the transport means during initial movement in thedirection of the major component upon opening and during final movementin the direction of the major component upon closing.
 9. The unit of anyof claims 5 to 8, wherein the support means is movable independently ofthe drawer and the transport means is responsive to relative movementbetween the support means and the drawer.
 10. The unit of claim 9,wherein the transport means is responsive to movement of the supportmeans before the major component of movement of the drawer begins or tocontinued movement of the support means after the major component ofmovement of the drawer has been completed.
 11. The unit of claim 9 orclaim 10, wherein the transport means includes a first part movable withthe support means and a second part movable with the drawer, whereinrelative movement between the parts accommodates said continued movementof the support means.
 12. The unit of claim 11, wherein said relativemovement between the parts causes the minor component of movement of thedrawer.
 13. The unit of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein one part includesa ramp and the other part includes a ramp follower.
 14. The unit ofclaim 13, wherein the ramp is associated with stops or buffers to limitrelative movement of the ramp follower.
 15. The unit of claim 13 orclaim 14, wherein the ramp follower is a wheel.
 16. The unit of claim15, wherein the wheel is one of a pair of wheels, a first wheel of thepair being for rolling load-transmitting contact with the ramp and asecond wheel of the pair being for rolling load-transmitting contactwith the structure while also being in rolling load-transmitting contactwith the first wheel.
 17. The unit of claim 15, wherein the wheel issupported by one or more auxiliary rollers opposed to the ramp.
 18. Theunit of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the ramp follower is an opposedramp such that relative sliding movement between the ramps duringmovement in the direction of the major component causes the minorcomponent of movement of the drawer.
 19. The unit of claim 18, whereineach ramp terminates in a peak at one end and a trough at the other end20. The unit of claim 19, wherein relative movement between the rampsbrings the peaks of the ramps into alignment with each other to bringthe drawer and the lid together.
 21. The unit of claim 19 or claim 20,wherein relative movement between the ramps brings the peaks of theramps into alignment with the opposed troughs to separate the drawerfrom the lid.
 22. The unit of any of claims 18 to 21 and including meansfor limiting relative movement between the ramps to transmit from onepart of the transport means to the other a force in the direction of themajor component.
 23. The unit of any of claims 11 to 22, wherein theparts can be separated on removing the drawer from the support means.24. The unit of any of claims 5 to 23, wherein the support means bearsthe weight of the drawer during movement of the drawer other than duringinitial movement in the direction of the major component upon openingand during final movement in the direction of the major component uponclosing, the structure bearing the weight of the drawer directly duringsaid initial and final movements and when the drawer is closed.
 25. Theunit of any of claims 5 to 24, further comprising a damper extensibleand retractable in response to movement of the support means withrespect to the structure.
 26. The unit of claim 25, wherein the damperhas variable resistance to movement of the support means.
 27. The unitof claim 26, wherein the resistance of the damper increases withincreasing speed of movement of the support means.
 28. The unit of claim26 or claim 27, wherein the resistance of the damper increasesapproaching at least one end of its stroke.
 29. The unit of any ofclaims 25 to 28, wherein the damper resists movement of the supportmeans by pumping air through a restricted orifice.
 30. The unit of anyof claims 25 to 29, wherein the damper comprises an outer cylindersealed to a hollow and elongate piston movable within the outer cylinderto pressurise and depressurise air within the outer cylinder, the pistonincluding a plurality of orifices spaced apart along its length andcommunicating with each other through the hollow interior of the piston,whereby the piston can be positioned within the outer cylinder to exposeat least one of said plurality of orifices to the interior of the outercylinder while simultaneously exposing at least one other of saidplurality of orifices to atmosphere outside the outer cylinder.
 31. Theunit of any of claims 5 to 30, further comprising restraining means toslow movement of the support means or the drawer with respect to thestructure.
 32. The unit of claim 31, wherein the restraining means isunidirectional in its effect.
 33. The unit of claim 31 or claim 32,wherein the restraining means acts to slow the support means or thedrawer when the support means or the drawer are at one or morepredetermined locations in their range of movement with respect to thestructure.
 34. The unit of any of claims 31 to 33, wherein therestraining means acts to slow the support means or the drawer when thesupport means or the drawer approach an end of said range or movement.35. The unit of any of claims 31 to 34, wherein the restraining meanscomprises a first part in fixed relation to the structure and a secondpart in fixed relation to the support means or the drawer, the partsencountering one another during relative movement between the structureand the support means or the drawer and at least one of the partsdeflecting resiliently to allow the parts to pass one another uponcontinued relative movement.
 36. The unit of any of claims 5 to 35,wherein the support means is fixed to a stabilising means to resistlateral sway of the drawer during the major component of movement. 37.The unit of claim 36, wherein the stabilising means includes at leastone extending member attached to the structure and being auxiliary toand movable with the support means.
 38. The unit of claim 37, whereinthe major component is generally horizontal and the extending member isrelatively stiff in a generally horizontal direction transverse to thedirection of the major component.
 39. The unit of claim 38, wherein theor each extending member is laterally offset with respect to thedirection of the major component.
 40. The unit of any of claims 36 to39, wherein the extending member is a telescopic runner.
 41. The unit ofclaim 36, wherein the stabilising means includes pinions movable withthe support means, the pinions being engaged with respectivelaterally-spaced racks extending in the direction of the majorcomponent.
 42. A storage unit including: an open-topped drawer; a lidadapted to close the open top of the drawer; and a structure supportingthe drawer and the lid; wherein the drawer is mounted to the structurefor movement relative to the structure and the lid to open the drawerand afford access to its interior or to close the drawer, and whereinthe lid is mounted to the structure for movement relative to thestructure and the drawer to separate the lid from the drawer before saidmovement of the drawer upon opening or to bring together the drawer andthe lid after said movement of the drawer upon closing.
 43. The unit ofclaim 42, embodied as a cold storage appliance comprising: anopen-topped insulating container being the drawer; an insulating lidadapted to close the open top of the container; a cooling means adaptedto cool the interior of the container; and a structure supporting thecontainer, the lid and the cooling means; wherein the container ismounted to the structure for movement relative to the structure and thelid to open the container and afford access to its interior or to closethe container, and wherein the lid is mounted to the structure formovement relative to the structure and the container to free thecontainer from the lid before said movement of the container uponopening or to bring the container and the lid together after saidmovement of the container upon closing.
 44. The unit of claim 42 orclaim 43, wherein the lid can be tilted relative to the structure andthe drawer.
 45. The unit of claim 44, wherein the lid is hinged to thestructure, the hinge defining a pivot axis horizontally spaced from thedrawer.
 46. The unit of any of claims 42 to 45, wherein the lid ismovable transverse to the direction of movement of the drawer.
 47. Theunit of any of claims 42 to 46, including lid transport means responsiveto movement of the drawer or of a support means movable to support thedrawer during said movement.
 48. The unit of claim 47, wherein the lidtransport means moves the lid before the drawer starts moving uponopening and after the drawer has stopped moving upon closing.
 49. Theunit of claim 47 or claim 48 and comprising support means movable tosupport the drawer during said movement and lid transport means betweenthe support means and the lid that responds to movement of the supportmeans to move the lid.
 50. The unit of claim 49, wherein the supportmeans is movable independently of the drawer and the lid transport meansis responsive to relative movement between the support means and thedrawer.
 51. The unit of claim 50, wherein the lid transport means isresponsive to continued movement of the support means after movement ofthe drawer has ceased.